CFR Freight has moved its
airfreight division into a new
league with the appointment
of Dave Graham to the
newly created position of
general manager – airfreight.
Since its inception six
years ago, the division has
grown and evolved. “But
we now want to take it to
the next level,” says CFR
managing director
Martin Keck.
Graham joined CFR
Freight on October 1 after
seven years with UTi, most
recently heading up the
Chicago gateway operation.
Along with New York, this
facility is their largest in the
United States.
Prior to that he headed up
the DHL airfreight facility
at JIA, now OR Tambo
International Airport.
“Compared to the Far East
and US, the consolidation
market in South Africa is
clearly under-developed and
I believe it’s something we
can grow,” Graham
told FTW.
There are several priorities
on his agenda. “First is
developing and growing new
business and ensuring that
the operational processes are
in place to support that new
business.”
Part of that drive will
include the recruitment of
a dedicated, capable and
experienced sales team.
One of the company’s
focus areas is the US where
its agency partner – Shipco
– is one of the major agents
in the region. Graham adds:
“Europe and Africa will
continue to be strong focus
markets, with South Africa
increasingly acting as a
springboard into the rest of
the continent.”
With airfreight offices
in Johannesburg, Cape
Town, Durban and Port
Elizabeth, the company is
well positioned to service
its growing client base. “A
strong selling point,” says
director Peter Schmidt-
Löffler, “is our worldwide
agency network – the Air
Cargo Group – which
enables us to offer a global,
door-to-door option.
“This offers considerable
advantages to forwarders
who don’t have an
international network. In
addition we have accounts
with all airlines as well as
CASS, which means that
our customers don’t need to
raise bank guarantees, which
would tie up their cash
flow and limit their ability
to increase their inbound
customs clearance business.”
The company has on-site
warehouse facilities and
is in the process of being
accredited in terms of Part
108 security regulations.
Clearly the foundations
are in place and a business
plan is on track. “Our goal,”
says Graham, “is to become
the leading airfreight
consolidator by 2011.”
New appointment adds muscle to airfreight consolidator
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